Yokohama Chinatown & Landmark Tower

With Tokyo so close, it is easy to overlook Japan’s second largest city, Yokohama. However there is a lot to do in Yokohama and the city is a great day trip destination from Yokota. On our first adventure to Yokohama we visited the seafront at Landmark Tower and then Chinatown.

Landmark Tower. There is a lot to do and see in and around Landmark Tower. Take the fastest elevator in Japan to the 69th floor for an amazing view of the city, waterfront and Mt. Fuji. Open 10am-9pm; Adults ¥1000, High School ¥800, Elementary ¥500, under age 4 ¥200. The Landmark Tower building is beautiful inside and houses several floors of shopping and restaurants as does the adjacent Queens Square. There are many restaurants to chose from including some American favorites: Hard Rock Cafe, Starbucks, and Sizzler. Head outside to find the waterfront area with lots to do. A giant Ferris wheel, huge sculptures, an amusement park, an old dry dock, the Yokohama Port Museum, and the Yokohama Museum of Art are all right outside Landmark Tower. The thing we enjoyed most was touring the Nippon Maru, a sailing ship built in 1930. Our kids enjoyed going below decks and seeing the Cadet’s cabins, Captains quarters, engine room and dining rooms. We went on a Sunday in January and found lively street performances and everything was open, but the area wasn’t overly crowded. There is a huge and affordable parking garage underneath Landmark Tower. Park there and be sure to get your parking validated if you eat in one of the restaurants or shop in the mall.

Chinatown. Chinatown was a bit busier and we just walked around the area and enjoyed the storefronts, people and architecture. We found street parking close to one of the Chinatown entrances.

There is certainly a lot more to do in Yokohama. Here is a link to the Yokohama Visitors Guide. -Sarah Straus, January 2014.